Indiana Jones – Writing Between the Lines

Vintage Dude

The Man…

The Myth….

The Legend…

Also an excellent teacher librarian who spends hours working at home on his own time. He serves on the teachers’ union board because teachers’ working conditions (ie. class size) are students’ learning conditions.

He’s a soccer referee who gives back to his association by serving on the board as treasurer…

…and he still looks pretty darn good in shorts.

Even more importantly–he’s a very good daddy.

He is wise and kind, and he sees the world through a lens of compassion.

Not only that—the man bakes his own Christmas cookies!

Thom is of the very best vintage. Who could ask for anything more?

If I couldn’t have Thom…

…I might settle for Indiana Jones.

But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

When the time comes, maybe we’ll have Thom stuffed and put in a museum.

But for now, we’ll stuff him with cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday, dear Thom, and many many more!

Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Photo Challenge: Face.

All words and images (except Indiana Jones) copyright Naomi Baltuck

This Versatile Blogger Welcomes You to the Planet Baltuck

Hey! It’s official! I’m a Versatile Blogger! First, thanks to these folks for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award.

Mike Reverb is a writer with a great sense of humor, plenty of encouragement and useful tips for his colleagues.

Samir, a citizen of the world, is a creative writer who asks thoughtful questions about the art and craft of writing.

Maggie Myklebust, an American living in Norway, just published her memoir, Fly Away Home, and her blog is great.

And Now….Welcome to the Planet Baltuck.

Eli–a typical inhabitant.

Part of accepting the Versatile Blogger Award is that I share my world with you–or at least seven surprising and/or little known facts about myself. So here they are…

1. There really is a Planet Baltuck up there in the night sky. It’s named after my big sister Miriam, the white sheep of the family, for her contributions to science. Learn more about it in my post, After All.

Bea says, “Don’t go away. There’s much more. For instance…”

2. I am a twin. My brother Lewis is older by three minutes, but I’m bossier. He must have been hogging all the room in there, because he weighed much more than I did at birth, but I made up for it by stealing his baby bottle. We are best buddies now; I need to stay on his good side because he’s a great cook, and desserts are his specialty.

3. I gave birth to my own critique group. I’m so dang proud of my kids Eli and Bea. We share a passion for history, art, travel, storytelling. Best of all, they are great writers, and I can count on them for an honest insightful critique. To learn more, check out Bea’s blog for writers, Adventures for the Faint of Heart.

4. I was a guest on Romper Room. I was on the program as part of a West Coast storytelling tour sponsored by General Mills. It was October, so I told a spooky story, and BOO! I made Miss Nancy jump! Does that make me a Don’t’ Bee?

5. I saw the filming of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. We were on the Yale campus tour four years ago looking at colleges for my son. It was all very hush-hush, and we didn’t know until we got there what was going on. Traffic was diverted, curbs were lined with trailers, dressing rooms, antique cars, and camera equipment. We saw two scenes filmed, including a car scene with old boats from the late forties. But we couldn’t get close enough to identify the actors. To learn about my real life encounter with Indiana Jones a.k.a. Harrison Ford, click here.

6. We came over on the Mayflower. On my mother’s side, I am descended from four of the original passengers on the Mayflower. Elizabeth Tilley came over with her parents, John and Joan Tilley, and married John Howland. He was the only passenger to survive a fall overboard on the journey across the icy Atlantic. If he hadn’t grabbed a rope trailing behind the ship, I wouldn’t be here today. Neither would most of America, because almost everyone and his cousin is descended from someone who came over on the Mayflower, whether they know it or not. To see the ornament we hang on the tree each year to commemorate this event, check out my post, The Christmas Gang.

7. My favorite candy is Good ‘n’ Plenties. A sweet burst and a long chew! When I sent my son Good ‘n’ Plenties in a CARE package, his college roommates teased him for eating ‘old people’s candy.’ But my husband Thom says he read that Good ‘n’ Plenties are a mild aphrodisiac—and then he gave me a box. I really don’t know about that, but they were very good—both of them.

Now for the best part! I get to tell you all about these talented and fascinating bloggers as I pass this award on to them.

Island Traveler is one man’s inspiring journey through life.

Stuff I tell my sister— Good insight into life–and she tells you while telling her best friend, her sister.

I May fly– Lovely photos, humorous and witty.

Susan Wingate— Award-winning novelist who knows how to herd cats, well, sorta kinda. But can she write!

Sabrina Garie— A lovely writer who happens to be well-versed in sci-fi.

Saraflower’s Blog— The author of By the Sword, with plenty of insight and support for writers.

Walking Papers Blog— Interesting, insightful, and always intriguing.

Daily Sweet Peas— Sweet indeed! Lovely photographs and poetry.

Let’s Cut the Crap--An irreverant view of life after sixty-five.

Sarahpotterwrites— Sarah is a talented musician, artist, and poet.

The ObamaCrat— Mr. J.B. is indeed versatile–he shares recipes, music, poetry, but most of all heartfelt convictions.

Four Blue Hills— A very professional presentation of everything from fun facts to world events.

It’s a Whole New World— This is one mom’s everyday life, and what she does to keep smiling.

The Wanderlust Gene— An intelligent and well traveled sixtysomething’s photographs, stories, and insight about life and its adventures.

A Map of Time, a Trip Into the Past-– Fascinating, well told, and often obscure fun facts from history.

Harrison Ford and The Wildlife Report

In 1981, at the theater debut of Raiders of the Lost Ark, I whispered to my boyfriend Thom, “Honey, if I couldn’t have you, I’d have Indiana Jones.”

A few years ago, my sister Constance and I spent a week in Jackson Hole, WY, where Harrison Ford has a ranch. I gave a goodbye kiss to my kids and Thom, my husband of twenty-some years. “Dang!” I said. “I forgot to get my hair cut.”

“Why bother?” asked Thom.

“I want to look my best, in case we run into Harrison Ford,” I joked.

From Grand Teton National Park I called in the daily Wildlife Report. “We saw a moose at Willow Flats, a bear, skunk roadkill, and a doe with triplets.” Next day it was a coyote, an osprey with a fish, and a bison that peed in public. The folks at home were very impressed.

One rainy day, after having lunch in town, we walked down the street. I picked at that last stubborn bit of tuna between my teeth, and noted my reflection in a shop window. My wet hair was looking pretty scraggly. “Stimudent?” I asked Con.

She didn’t answer–I turned and followed her gaze–she was staring at the back of a man in tan cargo pants and a matching jacket. “That’s Harrison Ford.”

“Good one,” I said. ” But that guy’s too short.”

“Honest!” said Con.

I’d only glimpsed the guy’s back on a crowded sidewalk. It could be. “Swear. On our mother’s grave.”

She wasn’t lying.

“Oh, my God!” I cried. “They will never believe this back home! I need proof! Photo-documentation!”

I drew my camera and followed, elbowing small children and little old ladies out of my way, but I couldn’t catch up. He jaywalked through traffic and I saw only the back of his head as he went into a ski shop. My face pressed discreetly against the glass, I saw him walk to the back wall, and the display of…no, not whips, knives or even hats. Stuff sacks.

He still had his back to me. I had to know. I entered the store, but panicked, and went straight to the rack of sunglasses on the front counter. A clerk hurried over to help. But there was no help for me; I had just stalked a man who might or might not be Harrison Ford through the streets of Jackson. I bolted for the door. As I escaped, the man glanced over his shoulder.

It was Him. That night the Wildlife Report included a Big Game Hunt and Worthy Prey.

Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Travel Theme: Entertainment.